Flushing cistern



B. SCHRAGE EI'AL April 15, 1952 FLUSHING CISTERN Filed Nov. 25, 1946 EN mu OM TS NJHH mw Y V E E SE ETN flm NBN T A E .T

V Y S B U D R A G E L H Patented Apr. 15 1952 FLUSHING CIS-TERN Bote Schrage, Johannes Wijsman, and Hillegardus van den Ste'enho'ven, Eindhoven, Netherlands, assignors to Hartford National Bank and Trust Company, Hartford, Conn., as trustee Application November 25, 1946, Serial N o. 712,122 In the Netherlands September 5, 1945 2 Claims. (01. 4-42) This invention relates to flushing cisterns of the well-known type, in which the flush water is kept at a definite level, by means of a float, in an overhead container and rushes down through an overflow syphon by operating a chain-pull or similar member. -The invention has for its object a simple and suitable construction of such a flushing cistern, which excels in robustness and reliability of operation.

In the conventional constructions the syphon comprises two parts which are movable with respect to one another. One of them, which usually surrounds the other like a bell, moves up and down on pulling and releasing, thus initiating the rush.

In the device according to the invention the rush is initiated by'a downward movement of the float resting on the water, which is thereby immersed and causes the water level in the container to rise so much that the syphon becomes operative.

In this construction, in which the float consequently has a double function, a single movable member in the container, instead of two, is sufflcient. Moreover, the syphon may be placed against one of the side walls, so that practically the whole interior of the cistern is available for the float. As a result thereof the latter can be given such a large cross section that even a comparatively slight downward movement entails a suflicient rise of the water level to perate the syphon.

Furthermore the float'may form part of the syphon, which not only constitutes a simplifica- 7 tion in construction but also promotes an easy overflow of the syphon.

In addition, the device according to the invention permits in simple manner to ensure that the volume of flush depends upon the time during which the chain is pulled or upon the distance over which it is lowered.

.In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into efiect, we shall describe the same in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which a single figure is a side view in section of a flushing system according to the invention.

The flushing cistern l shown in the drawing is filled with water by means of a filling valve 3 fitted in a hole 2. This valve is closed in a manner known by means of a float 4 as soon as the water level rises to the dotted line 5 i. e. a few mms. below the upper edge of a vertical dis charge pipe 6. In the example illustrated this one piece, thus avoiding a seal which is per- .manently under water pressure. This permits 7 connect it to a discharge pipe.

the system to be made from synthetic resin, for instance, which permits a light construction and cheap mass production.

The portion 24 of the pipe 6 projecting from the bottom is provided with a screwthread to The float 4 consists of a round open container, of which the bottom exhibits a deeply re-entrant portion 25 comprising three or more internal radial ribs 23 by which it is kept centered with respect to the pipe 6. This float also may be moulded from synthetic resin. The float can be depressed, against the upward pressure of the water, by means of a lever Ill and. chain H, the water in the cistern rising to such a point that the syphon becomes operative and at the same time the filling valve 3 opens.

In its lower position the float 4 rests on two or more radial ribs 28 of the slightly excavated central part of the cistern.

In this construction the level 5 can be controlled in a simple manner by constructing the device in such manner that this level is too low in the finished apparatus and by subsequently making the float gradually heavier, for instance by pouring in sand, lead shot or the like until the desired level is reached.

It is not necessary, but advantageous in certain respects, to use a bell-shaped re-entrant part 25 which is open at the bottom end, as represented, since on lowering the float, notably if this takes place rapidly, the water, due to this shape, will rise between the re-entrant part 25 and the discharge pipe 6 so that the syphon will tend to overflow under the combined action of the general rise of the water level 5 and the effect just referred to. This permits to flush again before the infiowing water has reached the level 5, and this the earlier as the float is pulled down more rapidly. Also in this respect the device according to the invention is favourably distinguished from the conventional devices, in which the downward movement of the bell, as a result of which the syphon becomes operative, takes place exclusively under the action of gravity.

Failing the device set out hereinafter each flush would completely empty the cistern through the syphon. In many cases this means waste of water and so it will be desirable to interrupt the flushing at will. To this end the upper wall 21 of the re-entrant portion 25 is furnished with an aperture which can be hermetically closed by means of a cone [3 hinged to the lever H). A spring plate 26 connected to the cone provides that air can re-enter through the aperture as soon as the chain II is released. when the syphonage immediately ceases.

In the case of the valve l3 being closed the tension of the spring plate 26 should be such that the valve opens upon releasing the chainpull, but it must not have such a value that the valve closes only after the flushing has be gun, since in this case water might run along the valve into the float.

What we claim is:

1. A flushing cistern comprising a tank mem-- ber, a float member arranged within said tank member and comprising a first tubular wall portion and a second tubular wall portion surrounding said first tubular wall portion, said wall por-.

tions being joined together at their bottom adjacent edge portions, a barrier wall portion having a restricted opening positioned on the top edge portion of said first wall portion, a first valve member for introducing liquid into said tank member, an actuating lever pivotedly coupled to said valve member and arranged above said fioat member, a second valve member secured to said actuating lever and engaging said restricted opening, a discharge pipe member extending into said tank member and into said first wall portion, and means to energize said actuating lever to close said restricted opening and simultaneously depress said float member into the liquid in said tank member.

2. A floating cistern comprising a tank member, a float member arranged within said tank member and comprising a conically tubular wall portion and a cylindrical wall portion surrounding said conical wall portion, said wall portions being joined together at their bottom adjacent edge portions, a barrier wall portion having a restricted opening positioned on the top portion of said first wall portion, a first valve member for introducing liquid into said tank member, an actuating lever pivotedly coupled to said valve member, a second valve member secured to said actuating lever and engaging said restricted opening, a discharge pipe member extending into said tank member and into said first wall portion, and means to energize said actuating lever to close said restricted opening and simultaneously depress said float member into the liquid in said tank member.

BOTE SCHRAGE.

JOHANNES WIJSMAN.

HILLEGARDUS VAN DEN STEENHOVEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 283,105 Henderson Aug. 14, 1883 1,299,789 Schuh Apr. 8, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 22,028 Great Britain Oct. 19, 1898 107,587 Great Britain June 20, 1918 226,185 Great Britain June 4, 1925 429,519 Great Britain May 31, 1935 848,362 France Oct. 27, 1939 

